Torsional and axially movable resilient rotor structure for electric switches



Nov. 16, 1965 c. w. ROOT TORSIONAL AND AXIALLY MOVABLE RESILIENT ROTOSTRUCTURE FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1'7, 1961 INVEN TOR.

CHARLES W. ROOT MM Q ATTORZEYS N 6, 1965 c. w. ROOT 3,218,401

TORSIONAL AND AXIALLY MOVABLE RESILI T ROTOR STRUCTURE FOR ELECTRICSWITO Filed Aug. 17, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y INVENTOR.

CHARLES W. ROOT I q .7 BY

ATTORNE S Nov. 16, 1965 c. w. ROOT 3,218,401

TORSIONAL AND AXIALLY MOVABLE RESILIENT ROTOR STRUCTURE FOR ELECTRICSWITCHES Filed Aug. 17, 1961 3 sheets-sheet s INVENTOR. CHARLES W. ROOT5 mm w m m/Q fnwzw ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,218,401 TORSIONALAND AXIALLY MOVABLE RESILIENT ROTOR STRUCTURE FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHESCharles W. Root, Sidney, N.Y., assignor to The Bendix Corporation,Sidney, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 17, 1961, Ser. No.132,065 15 Claims. (Cl. 200-11) This invention relates to electricalapparatus, and more particularly to a switch, such as an engine startingand ignition switch.

The invention has among its objects the provision of a novelmulti-position switch.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of amulti-position switch which is particularly characterized by itssimplicity and economy of manufacture.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of a novelmulti-position switch of the rotary type wherein the rotor is made upessentially of an integral resilient electrically insulating body, partsof which urge the contacts on the rotor into firm electrical engagementwith the contacts on the stator of the switch.

Still another object of the invention is the provision, in amulti-position switch of the character indicated, of integral resilientmeans which both carries the contacts on the rotor and returns the rotorto a stable condition from one into which it has been turned to initiatea temporary operation, as during the starting of a motor.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a switch ofthe type indicated wherein there is incorporated at least one contactwhich is normally in inoperative condition but which may selectively bemade operative by movement of the switch rotor in a direction differentfrom the usual or normal direction of movement of such rotor.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention willmore fully appear from the following description when the same is readin connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expresslyunderstood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose ofillustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits ofthe invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like partsthroughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of an ignition switch made inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in longitudinal axial section taken on line 22 of FIG.3 through the switch of FIG. 1, the outer casing and stator of theswitch being shown in the same position as in FIG. 1, the rotor of theswitch being shown turned to the start position, the rotor of the switchbeing shown in its axially outer position wherein the accessory contactof the switch is deenergized, certain of the parts being shown inelevation;

FIG. 3 is a view in end elevation of the switch from the stator endthereof, the view being taken from the line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view in transverse section through the switch, the contactson the rotor of the switch being shown in phantom lines in the positionswhich they occupy when the rotor is in start position, the section beingtaken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is another view in transverse section through the switch, thesection being taken along the line 55 of FIG. 2, with the rotor of theswitch turned into start position;

FIG. 6 is a view in end elevation of the switch mounted on a panel, thekey-like operating member of the switch being shown in elevation in theposition which it occupies when the switch is in off position, the viewbeing taken from the line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

"ice

FIG. 7 is a composite schematic view showing four successive positionsof the switch rotor and the contacts which it carries relative to thestator of the switch; some of the various angular positions of theswitch shown in this figure are somewhat different from those of theother figures of the drawings for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 8 is a view in transverse section through the switch, the sectionbeing taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a view in longitudinal axial section through the main body ofthe rotor of the switch, the section being taken along the line 99 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but with the rotor of the switchthrust inwardly into a position in which the accessory contact of theswitch is energized, the housing of the switch being fragmentarily shownin phantom lines;

FIG. 11 is a wiring diagram of an engine ignition circuit incorporatingthe switch shown in FIGS. 1-9, inclusive, the circuit of FIG. 11 alsoincluding a motor starting circuit and a circuit for energizing anaccessory device, both of such latter circuits being selectivelyenergized through the switch.

The switch of the illustrative embodiment of the invention is shownherein in an application wherein it functions to control the startingand magneto-energizing circuits of an internal combustion engine. Insuch application the embodiment of switch illustrated provides positiveoff and on control of a high or low tension magneto or of batteryignition, and provides selectively operated starting contacts wherebythe engine may be started in one position of the switch. In theembodiment shown, the switch also provides means for energizing anaccessory circuit in all but the off position of the switch. As aconsequence of such features, the switch permits a simple, one-handedoperation thereof selectively to energize the accessory circuit onlywhile the engine is not running, to deenergize the accessory circuit andto stop the motor, to start the motor, and to allow the motor to run, inboth the latter positions of the switch the accessory circuit remainingenergized.

Although the switch is illustrated herein as an ignition switchoperating as above described, it will be apparent from the followingdescription that the switch is capable of a variety of other uses in theembodiments thereof shown, and further that it is of a constructionwhich lends itself readily to modification of the manner of connectionof the contacts thereof, such as the stator contacts, so as to permitthe switch to be employed for a large number of other purposes.

Turning now to the drawings, there is shown therein a switch, generallydesignated 10, which is useful, for ex-v ample, as the ignition switchof an outboard motor. Switch 10 has a housing generally designated 11which may be made, for example, of metal. The housing has a rear hollowcup-like portion with a peripheral wall 15 and an end wall 14, wall 14being centrally joined to a central axially extending barrel portion 12.The stator of the switch is in the form of an insulating disc 16 made,for example, of molded plastic material, disc 16 being mounted in anannular seat 17 on the forward or inner end of the portion 15 of thehousing. A skirt 19 surrounds the edge of disc 16, angularly spacedportions of the skirt being extended rearwardly as shown and beingdeformed radially inwardly so that portions 20 thereof overlie thebevelled outer edge of disc 16. As a result, the disc 16 is stronglyheld against axial withdrawal from casing 11. The disc is accuratelyangularly located with respect to the casing by having one of theprojections on skirt 19 (shown at the bottom in FIG. 3) accuratelyreceived within a slot 13 in the edge of disc 16. The rim portions 18 ofdisc 16 on both sides of slot 13 are unbevelled, the further edges ofsuch portions 18 engaging the edges of opposed extensions on the skirt19.

Barrel portion 12 of the casing is threaded as shown at 21 so as toreceive thereon a nut 22 which is designed to underlie a mounting panel23 as shown in FIG. 6. A cap 24 is threadedly received upon the outerend of barrel 12 so as to overlie the mounting panel 23.

The stator of the switch shown is provided with three radially outerangularly spaced contacts 25, 26, and 27 and with two radially innerangularly spaced contacts 29 and 30. The radially outer and innercontacts are adapted selectively to be bridged and thus connected bythree angularly spaced contacts 31, 32, and 34 carried by the rotor. Therelative positions of the radially inner and outer contacts on thestator are shown in the schematic diagrams of FIG. 7 wherein thecontacts are designated by the same reference characters as thoseemployed in connection with the actual structure but with an addedprime. In FIG. 7 also, the contacts of the rotor are also shownschematically and are thus designated by the same characters as theactual contacts but with an added prime.

The contacts on the stator, shown in detail in FIG. 4, may convenientlybe formed from one piece of electrically conducting metal such as copperwhich has been initially blanked out with the proper configuration. Suchblank has five integral terminal tabs 35, 36, 37, 39, and 40 thereon.The terminal tabs are bent so as to project out- Wardly from the mainextent of the blank in directions normal thereto. The contact blank maythen be placed as an insert in the mold of a plastic material moldingpress, and the disc 16 of plastic material molded thereabout. Followingthis, the disc 16 and the main body of the contact blank now included asan insert therein are machined so as to cut an annular groove 60therein, such groove being concentric with the axis of the rotor andstator. The inner face of the stator is also drilled or milled atlocation 43 to a depth at least slightly exceeding the thickness of thecontact blank. The thus described machining or cutting operations resultin the formation of the aforesaid separate radially outer contacts 25,26, and 27 and the radially inner contacts 29 and 30. The annular groove60 is further modified by having portions of greater width formedtherein at angularly spaced positions as shown in FIG. 4. Some of suchwidened portions, which are generally circular in shape, of the groove,to be described hereinafter, are adapted selectively stably to hold therotor in any one of the first three positions thereof shown in FIG. 7.Others of such widened portions, which are elongated in shape, areadapted to relieve the contacts of the rotor from engagement with theradially inner and outer contacts of the stator when the contacts liewithin such portions.

The rotor of the switch has a main body 41 which in the describedembodiment is made as an integral element molded of resilientelectrically insulating rubber or rubberlike material. Body 41 has amain disc-like portion 42 from which there extends rearwardly an axiallydirected sleeve portion 43. Portion 42 of the rotor has three re cessesin the form of bores 44 disposed therein, bores 44 being located atequal distances from the axis of the rotor and being angularly spacedabout such axis in the manner shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The forward end 45of each of bores 44 is of somewhat reduced diameter, there being anannular shoulder or seat 46 at the junctions of the main and forwardportions of the bore. The rear surface of portion 42 is generally flat,as shown at 47. From such flat surface 47, at the location of each ofthe contacts 31, 32, and 34 there is a rearwardly extending thin-walledcup 49 which is integrally molded with the rotor body 41. Cup 49 has arear transverse wall or diaphragm 50 which has a central opening 51therethrough.

Each of the bores 44 and the cup-like extensions 49 on body 41 receivesits respective rotor contact. Each of such contacts is made of anintegral piece of electrically conducting material such as copper. Asshown in FIG. 2,

each of contacts 31 and 34 has a rear body portion 52 which accuratelybut slidingly fits within the bore 44. The length of portion 52 of thecontact is substantially equal to that of the length of the bore 44inwardly from shoulder 46 when the cup-like extension 49 and diaphragm51) are in their relaxed state. F orwardly of body 52 contact 34 has aportion 54 of reduced diameter which slidably but accurately engages theforward portion of the bore in the rotor. Contact 32 is generallysimilar to contacts 31 and 34; the length of the forward end of contact32, however, is appreciably less than that of contacts 31 and 34, sothat in the relaxed condition of the rotor the contacts have therelationship shown in FIG. 9.

An annular shoulder 55 between portions 52 and 54 of the contacts 31, 32and 34 interacts with shoulder 46 of the bore stably to hold the contactin the rotor while permitting its ready insertion thereinto and removaltherefrom when desired. The forward end of each of the contacts isrounded at 56 and the rear end of the contact is rounded at 57. Portion42 of the rotor is constantly thrust to the right in FIG. 2 byinteraction between the contacts 31 and 34 on the rotor and the statorand, in turn, the thrust between the rear end 57 of such contacts andthe end wall or diaphragm 50 of cups 49 of the rotor. The cavity 59within casing portion 15 is made of such axial length as to permit thediaphragm 50 to bulge appreciably to the right when the rotor contacts31 and 34 bridge the narrow portions of groove 60. The dimensions of theparts and their relative dispositions are such that when the noseportion of one or both the contacts 31 and 34 is stably received withinthe circular portions of groove 60 the diaphragm 50 is appreciablybulged or bowed, thereby constantly urging such contact to the left andinto firm electrical engagement with the inner and outer contacts on thestator.

The groove 61) in the inner face of the stator has three angularlyspaced tapered enlarged portions 61, 62, and 64 and four circularenlarged portions 65, 66, 67, and 69 disposed as shown in FIG. 4. Asabove mentioned, when the rotor contacts 31 and 34 are Within thecircular enlarged portions of groove 60 they bridge and effect contactbetween the radially inner and outer contacts of the stator. In FIG. 4the rotor is shown in the starting position of the switch with rotorcontact 34 bridging stator contacts 26 and 30, rotor contact 32confronting stator contacts 27 and 30, and with rotor contact 31 lyingon an insulated portion of the stator. It will be understood that, withthe rotor in the axial position of FIG. 2, contact 32 does not engagecontacts 27 and 30. When the rotor is thrust forwardly into the positionshown in FIG. 10, however, contact 32 does engage contacts 27 and 30.

The portion 42 of rotor 41 has a peripherally relieved portion 70 intowhich a radially inwardly projecting stop member 71 on the housingextends. The angular extent through which the rotor may be turned isthus limited by the elements 70 and 71. Portion 42 of the rotor isturned, and such portion is resiliently returned from the startingposition to the running position of the switch, by the followingmechanism.

The sleeve or neck portion 43 of the rotor extends axially within thebarrel 12 of the casing. Sleeve 43 has a circular cylindrical bore 72therein which extends from the outer end of the sleeve generally to theroot of the sleeve. The inner or root end of bore 72 is tapered at '74and leads into an axially extending rectangular slot which extends intobody 42 of the rotor somewhat short of the inner or forward facesthereof. The tapering of the bore '72 at 74 facilitates entry of akey-like member '76 into slot '75. Such key-like member 76 has anelongated shank 77 which is adapted to be inserted into bore 72 and slot75 in the manner shown in FIG. 2. The portion 42 of the rotor may beturned by turning member 76 by its outer finger and thumb engagingportion 79.

The outer or rear end of neck 43 of rotor 41 is slidably engaged by theouter end of the bore in barrel 12 of the switch casing. An outwardlyprojecting land or spline 4S integral with neck 43 fits within alongitudinally extending groove 58 in the wall of the bore in the barrelof the casing, as shown in FIG. 3. The neck 43 is in its relaxedcondition when the switch rotor 41 is in the off position. The torsioncharacteristics of neck 43 of the rotor are such, however, that therotor is stably held in either the accessory actuating (Ace) position orthe Run and Acc. position (FIG. 7) when the switch rotor is turned bykey 76 either counterclockwise from the off position or clockwisetherefrom, respectively. In either of the first and third positions ofthe switch rotor shown in FIG. 7 the retention of contacts 31 and 34 onthe switch rotor within the respective circular enlarged portions ofgroove 60 in the stator is firm enough to overcome the tendency of thetwisted neck 43 of the switch rotor to return the rotor to off position.

When, however, the switch rotor is turned still further in a clockwisedirection (FIG. 7) from the Run and Acc. position into the Start andAcc. position, the neck 43 of the switch rotor is subjected to asubstantial additional torsion. The engagement between contacts 31 and34 and the stator of the switch is insufiicient to retain the rotor insuch last position; consequently, when the key 76 is then released, theswitch rotor returns to the Run and Acc. position, when it is againstably held until it is again deliberately turned by the operator.

An annular outer surface 80 on the neck 43 adjacent its root isrotatably and guidingly received within the forward portion of the borein barrel 12 of the casing. Engagement between an annular shoulder 81 onthe switch rotor and the forward end of barrel 12 prevents axialmovement of the rotor as a whole to the right from the position thereofshown in FIG. 2. The portion of neck 43 between spline 48 and the rearor outer end of surface 89 is radially relieved somewhat, to allow it totwist, when required, free of contact with the bore of barrel 12.

The key '76 has two radially outwardly directed projections 85 locatedaxially inwardly of handle 79. Projections 85 are adapted to cooperatewith the outer end portion of barrel 12 of the switch casing whereby toprevent the withdrawal of the key from the switch when the switch rotoris in other than the Off position. The key is positively retained in theswitch at the other positions of the switch rotor by the provision of aninwardly projecting flange 85' on the outer or rear end of barrel 12 ofthe switch casing. Flange 85 has a circular bore 87 therein whichaccurately receives the shank of key 76 outwardly of projections 85. Twoopposed grooves 89 in flange 85' are of a width and radial depth whichat least slightly exceed such dimensions of projections 85. The slots 89are aligned with slot 75 in rotor 41 when the rotor is in its offposition; consequently, the key may be fully inserted into operativeposition in the switch rotor when the latter is in such position. Whenthe key is turned either clockwise or counterclockwise from such offposition, however, the projections 85 on the key lie forwardly of flange85', so that Withdrawal of the key is then positively prevented.

It will be understood that when the switch rotor is in the positionshown in FIG. 2 the resiliently rearward dishing or bowing of thediaphragms 50 at the rear ends of portions as of the rotor bodymaintains the contacts 31 and 34 in firm engagement with the switchstator, and maintains the annular shoulder 81 on the rotor in engagementwith the annular shoulder presented by the forward end of barrel 12 ofthe switch casing. In such position of the rotor the contact 32 isspaced from the switch stator. When the rotor is thrust forwardly intothe position shown in FIG. 10, however, the diaphragms 50 backing upcontacts 31 and 34 are additionally resiliently dished, and contact 32is then thrust firmly into engagement with the stator; contact 32 thenoperatively cooperates with whatever contacts on the stator which itoverlies. In the position of the rotor shown at the left in FIG.

7, the accessory circuit is energized through contact 34; in the twopositions of the rotor shown at the right in FIG. 7 the accessorycircuit is energized through contact 32 when the switch rotor is in theforwardly thrust position of FIG. 10. In such forwardly thrust positionof the rotor, the projections on the key are received within the passagein neck 43 of the rotor and are frictionally engaged thereby to retainthe rotor in such position until the key is withdrawn into the positionof FIG. 2. If desired, the passage in neck 43 of the rotor may beprovided with an annular groove (not shown) to receive projections 85and to retain the key '76 somewhat more positively in the position ofFIG. 10.

In FIG. 11 there is schematically shown a motor circuit in which theabove-described switch may be advantageously employed. It is to beunderstood that such circuit and manner of use of the disclosed switchare illustrative only, and are not to be taken as limiting theinvention. The switch 10 shown in FIG. 11 is employed as the startingswitch for a single cylinder engine provided with magneto ignition, astarting motor, and with an accessory such as a light or a radio, theswitch providing for the selective turning of the ignition system on and0H, the starting of the engine, and the energization of the accessory.

The switch 10 of FIG. 11 is provided with five lead wires. A wireconnects switch terminal 29 to ground. The other wires, 111, 112, 124,and 126 are connected to switch terminals 39, 35, 4t), and 36,respectively, and eX- tend to separate contacts of a separable connectorschematically shown at 99. Two other contacts of connector 99 areconnected to a battery 1% by wires 107 and 109.

Beyond connector 99 wire 197 extends to ground and to one side of astarting motor 1% for the engine. The other side of the starting motor1% is connected to a contact 114 of a starting relay 101. The othercontact of the starting relay is connected to wire 109. The relay 101has a soleoid 113 having one end connected to ground and the other endconnected to wire 112. The wire 112 is energized when contact 34connects switch contacts 26 and 30. At other times the contacts of relay101 are electrically unconnected. The wire 116 is connected to thewinding 1112 of the engine magneto so as selectively to connect themagneto winding to ground through the switch 10. When ungrounded, thewinding of the magneto is operatively connected to the engine spark plugschematically shown at 121. The wire 124 is connected to one end of afirst terminal which provides a power source for an accessory device(not shown); the other terminal 125 of the power source for suchaccessory device is connected to ground. An accessory device connectedto terminals 105 and 125 will be supplied with power from battery 1%when the rotor of switch 16 is in the Acc. position, with the rotor inthe retracted axial position shown in FIG. 2, and will also he suppliedwith power when the body of the rotor is thrust axially inwardly (FIG.10) in both the turned Run and Ace. and Start and A00. positions of suchrotor.

The switch of the present invention in accordance with preferredembodiments thereof is waterproof, and thus is especially desirable foruse in applications wherein it is exposed to moisture, as in marineinstallations. Thus an annular sealing gasket 127 is mounted in theannular seat 17 in the switch housing, such gasket being sealinglyengaged by the rear outer edge portion of stator disc 16. The housing isimpervious; the stator disc is impervious, and forms a closure for oneend of the housing. The thrusting of the rotor body by the resilientdeformation of diaphragms 5t) maintains annular shoulder 81 of the rotorin sealing engagement with the inner end of barrel 12 except when therotor is thrust into the position of FIG. l0, a position which the rotorordinarily occupies for only short periods. There is sealing butrotatable engagement between annular surface 89 on the rotor and theannular surface at the inner end of the barrel 12 at all times. Theouter end of the neck 43 is snugly and sealingly received within thepassage through the outer end of barrel 12.

The contacts on the stator and rotor of the switch are at all timessealed from the atmosphere. Thus moisture or other foreign material cannot intrude into the contact zone of the switch. The switch is also ofadvantage in areas wherein explosive atmospheres are encountered, sincethe switching zone is fully enclosed.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated inthe accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing specification,it is to be especially understood that various changes, such as in therelative dimensions of the parts, materials used, and the like, as wellas the suggested manner of use of the apparatus of the invention, may bemade therein without depaiting from the spirit and scope of theinvention as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A switch comprising a stator, a rotor having a body made of aresilient selt'sustaining rubber-like electrically insulating material,means for mounting said rotor adjacent the stator for angular movementabout an axis, said body having an axially extending recess thereinopening toward said stator, and a contact slidably disposed in saidrecess and projecting therefrom into engagement with said stator, theportion of the body which forms the inner end wall of said recess remotefrom the stator being thin and stretchable to resiliently bias saidcontact into engagement with the stator.

2. A switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said recess and contact haveengageable shoulders to yieldably retain said contact in the recess.

3. A switch having a body made of a resilient selfsustaining rubber-likeelectrically insulating material, a recess in the body, and a contacthaving its rear portion slidably disposed in the recess and its forwardend projecting beyond the body, the contact being generally circularcylindrical in shape, the rear end portion of the contact having afirst, larger diameter accurately fitting within the recess, a portionof appreciable length at the forward end of the contact being of asecond, smaller diameter, a radially inwardly directed flange on thebody at the forward end of the recess, said flange having a relaxeddiameter appreciably smaller than the diameter of the rear end portionof the contact, the portion of the body which forms the rear sidewall ofthe recess being thin and axially extensible to a substantial degreewhen the contact is subjected to an appreciable rearwardly directedforce so as resiliently to urge the contact forwardly in the recess.

4. A multi-position switch comprising a stationary ele- \ment having afirst set of contacts disposed thereon, a movable element which may beselectively moved to any one of a plurality of positions, said movableelement having a second set of contacts thereon, the contacts of thesecond set being adapted to engage selected ones of the first contactsin the different positions of the movable element, the movable elementhaving a body made of a resilient self-sustaining rubber-likeelectrically insulating material, a support for the movable element, aportion of the body of the movable element being resiliently distortable.and having a part engaging a fixed portion of the support so as topermit the moving of the movable element from a first position to asecond position while distorting the distortable portion of the body ofthe movable elemcnt, said distortable portion being so constructed andarranged as to return the movable element to said first position thereofwhen the movable element is released.

5. A multi-position rotary switch comprising a stator having a first setof contacts disposed thereon, a rotor which may be selectively turned toany one of a plurality of angular positions, said rotor having a secondset of contacts thereon, the contacts of the second set being adapted toengage selected ones of the first contacts in the difierent positions ofthe rotor, the rotor being made of a resilient self-sustainingrubber-like electrically insulating material, the contacts of the secondset being supported by the rotor and being resiliently pressed by thematerial of the rotor toward the contacts of the first set, a supportfor the rotor, a portion of the rotor body being resiliently distortableand having a part engaging a fixed portion of the support so as topermit turning of the rotor from a first position to a second positionwhile distorting the distortable portion of the rotor body, saiddistortable portion being so constructed and arranged as to return therotor to said first position thereof when the rotor is released.

6. A imulti-position rotary switch as claimed in claim 5, wherein atleast one of the contacts of the second set normally projects furtherfrom the rotor than at least one other of the contacts of such set, andthe material resiliently pressing the said further-projecting contact ofthe second set forwardly toward the contacts of the first set isyieldable to permit rearward movement of such contact in its support sothat the forward ends of the contacts of the second set lie in positionssuch that they may operatively cooperate with the contacts of the firstset upon the thrusting of the rotor forward with the further-projectingcontact against the stator.

7. A multi-position rotary switch comprising a housing shell having astator connected thereto, a first set of contacts disposed on thestator, a rotor supported within the housing shell, said rotor beingmounted so that it may be selectively turned to any one of a pluralityof angular positons, said rotor having a second set of contacts thereon,the contacts of the second set being adapted to engage selected ones ofthe first contacts in the different positions of the rotor, the rotorhaving a main body made of a resilient self-sustaining rubber-likeelectrically insulating material, a portion of the rotor body being distortable and having a part engaging a fixed part of the housing shell soas to permit turning of the rotor from a first position to a secondposition while distorting the distortable portion of the rotor, saiddistortable portion being so constructed and arranged as to return therotor to said first position thereof when the rotor is released.

8. A rnulti-position rotary switch comprising a stator having a firstset of contacts disposed thereon, a housing shell, a rotor supportedwithin the housing shell and mounted so that it may be selectivelyturned to any one of a plurality of angular positions, said rotor havinga second set of contacts thereon adapted to engage selected ones of thefirst contacts in the different positions of the rotor, the rotor havinga main body and an elongated resiliently distortable portion extendingaxially from the main body, said elongated portion being journalled inthe housing shell at the inner end of the elongated portion adjacent themain body of the rotor, the outer end of said portion having a partengaging a fixed part of the housing shell so as to permit turning ofthe main body of the rotor from a first position to a second positionwhile torsionally distorting the elongated portion, the torsioncharacteristics of the elongated portion being such as to urge thereturn of the main body of the rotor to said first position thereof whenthe same is released.

9. A multi-position rotary switch as claimed in claim 8 wherein theelongated portion is a sleeve having an axial bore, and which includesmeans for turning the main body of the rotor comprising a socket in themain body aligned and communicating with the bore of the sleeve, saidsocket being adapted to receive a rotor-turning handle extended throughthe sleeve.

llt). A multi-position rotary switch as claimed in claim 9, wherein thesocket is generally in the form of an elongated thin rectangle in crosssection, and comprising a removable generally fiat elongated handledisposed in the socket and extending outwardly through the sleeve, arear portion of the housing shell projecting beyond the outer end of thesleeve, said rear poition of the housing shell having a keyhole slottherein receiving the handle, and at least one enlarged zone on thehandle which prevents the axial removal of the handle from the sleeveexcept when the enlarged zone is aligned with the keyhole slot.

11. A multi-position rotary switch as claimed in claim 9 wherein theouter end of the socket terminates substantially at the inner end of thesleeve and the said fixed part of the housing shell surrounds the outerend of the sleeve, and comprising a removable elongated handle having ashank with an inner end disposed in the socket and shaped to matetherewith, the shank having an outer portion extending outwardly throughthe sleeve and comprising at least one enlarged zone adjacent the outerend thereof fitting within and substantially resiliently distorting thewall of the here through the sleeve adjacent its outer end, whereby thefrictional engagement between the enlarged zone of the shank and thewall of the bore through the sleeve functions to aid in retaining therotor of the switch in a position wherein the sleeve is distorted.

12. A multi-position rotary switch as claimed in claim 8, wherein therear end of the distortable portion of the rotor has an outwardprojection at one zone thereof, and the said fixed part of the housingshell at least partially surrounds the rear end of the distortableportion of the rotor and has an arcuate recess accurately receiving theprojection, whereby the rear end of the distortable portion of the rotoris held from rotation with respect to the housing shell.

13. A multi-position rotary switch as claimed in claim 8 wherein theresiliently distortable portion of the rotor permits turning of therotor from said first position to a third position in which contacts ofthe second set engage contacts of the first set and the pressure of theengagement of the contacts is sufiiciently firm to prevent the distortedportion of the rotor from returning the rotor to the first position fromsaid third position.

14. A multi-position rotary switch as claimed in claim 8 wherein atleast one of the contacts of the second set is normally out ofengagement with the stator and is moved into engagement with the statorand a contact of the first set thereon upon the thrusting of the rotorforward.

15. A multi-position rotary switch as claimed in claim 8 wherein therotor has recesses therein opening toward the stator and the contacts ofthe second set are slidably disposed in the recesses with their forwardends projecting beyond the rotor toward the stator, the forward end ofeach of said contacts is of a smaller diameter than the main body of thecontact, the contacts are held in the respective recesses by an annularshoulder around the forward end of each recess, the diameter of eachrecess .at said shoulder is more than the diameter of the forward end ofthe contact therein and less than the diameter of the main body of saidcontact, the length of the main body of each of said contacts issubstantially equal to the length of the recess inwardly from saidshoulder, and the rear walls of the recesses are yieldable and resilientso as to permit pushing the contacts rearwardly in the recesses and toexert a forwardly directed force on the contacts when the contacts arepushed rearwardly against the rear walls of the recesses.

References Qited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,462,684 7/1923Clum 20044 2,088,340 7/1937 Rabe 267--57 X 2,428,214 9/1947 Gorey 339-692,546,744 3/ 1951 Hasselbaurn 200-44 X 2,706,803 4/ 1955 Templeton339-259 X 2,868,906 1/1959 Soreng 200-44 FOREIGN PATENTS 352,724 4/ 1961Switzerland.

BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

1. A SWITCH COMPRISING A STATOR, A ROTOR HAVING A BODY MADE OF ARESILIENT SELF-SUSTAINING RUBBER-LIKE ELECTRICALLY INSULATING MATERIAL,MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID ROTOR ADJACENT THE STATOR FOR ANGULAR MOVEMENTABOUT AN AXIS, SAID BODY HAVING AN AXIALLY EXTENDING RECESS THEREINOPENING TOWARD SAID STATOR, AND A CONTACT SLIDABLY DISPOSED IN SAIDRECESS AND PROJECTING THEREFROM INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STATOR, THEPORTION OF THE BODY WHICH FORMS THE INNER END WALL OF SAID RECESS REMOTEFROM THE STATOR BEING THIN AND STRETCHABLE TO RESILIENT BIAS SAIDCONTACT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE STATOR.